Mixed reports on the lumber market have been received from throughout the Northeast.
In Pennsylvania, a lumber sales representative commented, “I’m going to say the market in our area is soft” because of the “overall economic conditions that are out there. No one is extremely busy and I mean in all sectors: kitchen, bath, moulding, millwork and flooring. For most of us, business has been soft for the last year and a half and it hasn’t changed. Unfortunately, if I’m going to look at the future, I’m going to say that I don’t see any signs of improvement on the horizon, either.” The market is “about the same” as it was six months ago, according to him.
Their main species that they “sell on a routine basis, even though we do dabble with some others that are in our region” are Cherry, Red and White Oak and Hard and Soft Maple, he explained. White Oak and Walnut are the “two species that seem to be moving the best. White Oak is certainly a bright spot. We don’t do Walnut and there’s not a lot of Walnut in our region,” he added. They are primarily a 4/4 sawmill and they do work with No. 3 Common and Better.
His company sells to flooring and end use manufacturers in addition to distributors. He said that as for his customers, he doesn’t hear any “real enthusiasm on the horizon” from them.
Labor is “always a challenge. That hasn’t changed a whole lot in recent years.”
“I wish for a crystal ball so I’d know what is going to happen,” he said.
A lumber spokesman in Connecticut observed that the market, at the time of this writing, is “a steady slow. I feel it’s because of supply and demand. Supply has come off the market and many people have disappeared but we’re moving what we need to move.” It is better than six months ago.
They handle “pretty much all Northern species in all grades such as No. 3 Common through FAS. Soft Maple is selling the best and I would say that White Oak is falling a little.”
His clientele consists of distributors, end users and wholesalers. As for any commentary his clients have about the market for their own products, he added, “Everyone says they’re slow but they’re still buying lumber.”
A lumber source from Maryland reported that the market is “stable” for him because “it seems like we can move all products that we are producing but not at a profitable level, just a stable one.” He said that it is worse than six months ago.
They deal with “all Appalachian species from Hickory, Poplar, Red and White Oak to Soft and Hard Maple and Cherry in No. 2 Common and Better in addition to No. 1 and 2 Common FAS.” White Oak is selling the best.
Their primary customer basis consists of distribution, cabinetry, furniture manufacturers and flooring companies. His customers are “often citing home building statistics,” when asked about problems they are facing.
He listed interest rates as an issue for his company.
